Did you know that George Gershwin only found out he was going to write the Rhapsody in Blue from a newspaper article only five weeks before the concert premiere? He had previously declined the commission from the bandleader, Paul Whiteman, but was persuaded to compose it after it had been announced in the paper. The composition came together in his head on a train journey to Boston, inspired by the rhythm of the train, the diversity of the people, and the bustle of the crowds.
So naturally, when this clarinetist showed up for his senior photos wearing a blue-striped tie and I saw a blue train car on the Lebanon railroad tracks on my scouting walk, another composition was coming together in my head. I gave you the short version of the Rhapsody in Blue story. My senior wasn’t so lucky. During the walk down to the rails, I was rattling off all the details to him about how Gershwin wrote the score for two pianos, but Ferde Grote did the orchestration, and clarinetist Ross Gorman came up with the iconic opening glissando wail–more as a joke on Gershwin during rehearsal.
My poor clarinetist politely listened, sat where he was told to, and humored me until I got the pictures I wanted out of my head and onto my camera. Then we went back to our regularly scheduled session where it could be all about him again.
He likes Shostakovich, a twentieth century Russian composer.
I like listening to the Festive Overture but still bear a few scars from the concert band director urging the woodwinds to play the scales and trills faster and faster while air was seeping out of me like a leaky balloon. Long story. (My senior got to hear that, too.)
So by now you realize that this young man is a very patient guy. Intelligent and thoughtful, too.
He’s not perfect, though. He’s a blinker.
He warned me, so I avoided using flash of any sort for most of the shoot. He has quick blink reflexes, though. I think the sight of my trigger finger going down was enough to make him blink sometimes. But hey, we’re digital, and we can shoot a few extra frames to get some with his eyes open. Even though he doesn’t know what color his eyes are, which makes filling out driver’s license applications difficult.
When I did get out the flash near the end of the sesion, I always set my power manually, so there would never be a pre-flash.
With a guy this courteous, wouldn’t you have guessed that he would be an Eagle Scout, too?
I loved getting to know him and his mom, and it’s reassuring to know young men like him are going out into the world. I’m sure he has a great future ahead of him.
Wonderful photos, Nancy.
Thank you!